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Made for emergency relief professionals.
Recognised globally.

Master’s in Disaster Management and Resilience (MSc)

This 100% online postgraduate course from Coventry University, a leading provider in disaster management and emergency planning courses, is designed for advanced roles in disaster management and humanitarian action. It is a perfect choice for working professionals in a local or national government disaster management agency, an NGO, or civil society organisation.

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Intake of interest
  • 3 intakes per year (Jan, May, Sep)
Study options
  • 100% online study
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • 2 years part-time

Why choose us

Our globally-respected university has recently been awarded a 5-star rating by QS Stars for online learning as well as 5 stars for teaching, employability, internationalisation, facilities and innovation, among other areas. Our employability opportunities are reflected by our impressive graduate employment rate of 97 per cent.

Awards and rankings

Just a few of Coventry University's many accolades.

Achieve excellence with Coventry University Online’s postgraduate courses

See why we are an award-winning university for students in some of the world’s most competitive industries.

Who is this course for?

This online course is best suited to working professionals who are looking to further a career and specialise in essential skills and techniques in Disaster Management, Risk and Resilience.

Whether you're aiming to develop your leadership potential in disaster response or refine your skills for global humanitarian roles, our expert-designed disaster management courses offer the knowledge and tools you need to drive real change.

Our course is ideal for those who:

Our course is ideal for those who:

  • currently work in a local or national government disaster management agency
  • currently work within an NGO or civil society organisation and need to further their career
  • are looking to start a career in disaster management and humanitarian action.

Careers and opportunities

Whether pursuing further leadership in your role, specialising in your career, or expanding your professional portfolio, this online degree is ideal for professional or management roles in the following sectors:

National and local government

NGOs and multi-lateral organisations

UN organisations and other regional organisations

Health services and epidemiology

Military

(Re)insurance and risk management

City resilience

Risk and resilience consultancy

Security and safety sector

Employers of our previous graduates have included

UNICEF

United Nations Environment Programme

UN World Food Programme

Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Military

World Wildlife Fund

Deutsche Bahn

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai, India)

The British and German Red Cross

The Institute for Risk Management and Climate Change (Bogota, Colombia)

Our current teaching staff and the university's career specialists, known as the Talent Team, can support your search for employment in the UK or overseas by making use of our alumni network, industrial contacts, and individual advice (subject to availability).

Course overview

This online course could provide you with the advanced skills and knowledge you need to propel your career and build connections in the field of disaster management. Some of the highlights of this 100% online course can be found below.

  • You will be given the chance to develop the knowledge and skills needed to anticipate, assess, plan for and manage complex disasters. You will also learn how to operate confidently, develop policies and implement disaster management strategies successfully.
  • You will develop greater understanding of how community, professional, organisational, national and international capacity deal with complex multifactorial disasters. Within this expert-led course, you will get the chance to develop strategies that could increase resilience to acute and chronic threats to both economies and societies.
  • During your studies, you will receive sector-specific content and practical assignments that allow you to assess current policy and practice, while making recommendations to improve humanitarian response, community participation, accountability and organisational change.
  • Throughout the course we explore how modern society is creating ever more complex risk and interdependency. The impact of features such as societal inequalities, social tension, extremism, global supply and economic instability, reliance on technology, severe weather conditions, pandemic disease and climate change means that there are now many career opportunities in this field.

For more information about the course, download our brochure.

Download brochure

Why study this course

Our online course in disaster management is designed to provide the depth and rigour required for development, reflection and networking in this sector.

  • Climate change, urban pressure and lack of disaster preparedness are increasingly transforming natural hazards around the world. The world desperately needs more disaster management skills to deal with these growing disastrous events in the future.
  • Even if you are new to higher education or returning to study after a long break, this disaster management degree is designed to support you and fit around your lifestyle. We offer additional modules for an easy transition into postgraduate study with expert-led support available during your studies.
  • Your work will be reviewed and graded to professional standards, giving you the best chance at career success. You will have the opportunity to carry out an independent piece of research of your choosing, producing an industry-facing working paper which should be of publishable quality.

To apply to study this course 100% online, click below (UK and International students).

Apply now

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

Chartered Management Institute

As part of this degree, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the January and May 2025 intakes. Upon successful completion of the module (achieving a pass grade), you will earn the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice, subject to registration and CMI moderation, at no extra cost.

Upon successful completion of the Leading Diverse Workforces module (achieving a pass grade), you will be eligible for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost. Further details can be found under the module and on the Professional Development module webpage.

Coventry University's accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is regularly reviewed and monitored by the CMI through its quality systems.

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What you will study

This course is offered fully online on a full-time or part-time basis so that you can approach your learning flexibly, as you choose.

Master's in Disaster Management and Resilience (MSc)

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

Entry requirements

UK and International

To get started with this online postgraduate course, applicants should have a 2:2 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. Applicants with a lower class of degree and/or professional experience only will be individually considered and will usually be interviewed prior to being offered a place on the course.

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component area. If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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How you will learn

Complete in one year or study at a pace that suits you. 100% online.

  • You can choose to study the master's degree full-time over three semesters in one year or part-time over two years.
  • You will have classes, online tutorials and seminars, with all your learning activities available on-demand so that you can learn at the best time and location for you.
  • Enjoy 24/7 access to electronic resources, including thousands of books, e-journals, and newspapers.
  • Receive guidance from an Associate Lecturer, who will lead weekly live sessions (recorded for those unable to attend) to provide clarity and depth on your learning.
  • The Associate Lecturer will also be available for fortnightly one-on-one consultations and can be contacted for further support via email and the platform.
  • You get the same qualification, benefits, and support as a campus student, including access to industry-leading academics, career advisors, writing tutors and wellbeing services.

Prefer to study with time on campus? Click here to view our on campus course.

Assessment

This online disaster management degree will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our degrees are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Teaching contact hours

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As a postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 15 credit module requires a total of 150 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Students will have access to an experienced team of tutors and lecturers who will support their studies. Each module will have dedicated online content to support the learning.

For those looking to study this course part-time, teaching arrangements may vary. For more information, see our part-time study page.

Teaching hours may vary depending where you are with your studies but on average you will have approximately two contact hours per week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress, you will spend more time on independent learning.

Throughout your studies, you will spend time in guided and independent study, digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you've learned and completing assignments. As you progress through your studies, you'll spend more time in independent study.

Fees and funding

Course fee: £13,550 or £75.28 per credit hour (180 credit hours)

Our tuition fees are calculated for the entire duration of the programme. You also have the option to pay fees by credit hour, rather than making a full upfront payment. A variety of payment options exist including instalments through the duration of the programme.

FAQs

How to apply

To apply to study this course 100% online, click below. The application process is quick but you will need documentation including previous qualifications and experience.

Apply now

For further support or more information about your course, get in touch with us today.

Enquire with us

Facilities

Our online students have many of the same benefits as on-campus students in Coventry.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.